The Four Days of Christmas: A Healthy Giancarlo

The Marlins treated themselves to a nice little Christmas present in the winter of 2014, signing star Giancarlo Stanton to a long term deal and making sure he stayed anchored in South Florida. The mega-deal eliminated any doubt that the Giancarlo would be jumping to a larger market team and that he’d make Marlins Park his home for at least a few more years.

The Marlins went about trying to please Stanton acquiring flashy and pricey veterans to try and show their young star they were in a “win-now” mode and ready to contend for a spot in the playoffs. As with most things with the Marlins, that didn’t go as planned at all. The team imploded and the Miami front office sold off their prized veterans for a marginal return making 2015 a complete and total failure.

With the deal signed on the heels of Giancarlo having a gruesome injury after taking a pitch from Mike Fiers to the face, Giancarlo’s comeback was one of the only questions in the deal. After a slow start to the season, Giancarlo heated up and looked like himself smashing 400 foot shots and continuing to cement his place as one of the best hitters in the game.

Then, in June things took a turn for the worse. Giancarlo was hit by a pitch in the hand breaking his hamate bone, effectively ending his 2015. Stanton would never return to the field after the injury.

So the Marlins Christmas wish is to have an entire season of healthy Giancarlo. To eliminate the tough luck injuries, and to have him available for a whole 162 game schedule. That’s a lot to ask, but isn’t entirely out of the question. Keep in mind Stanton’s injuries were not nagging knee or ankle problems or anything that could get considerably worse over time. It was two instances where he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time and got dinged by a pitch.

Hopefully 2016 will bring a fully healthy season for Stanton. I believe that’s what both the Marlins, and Stanton want for Christmas.